EXTRA!!!
Horner disappointed at Webber secrecy
By Jonathan Noble - Tuesday, December 7th 2010, 09:05 GMT
Red Bull Racing chief Christian Horner has expressed his disappointment at the failure of Mark Webber to inform the team about the shoulder injury he picked up before the Japanese Grand Prix.
News about Webber fracturing his shoulder emerged this week following publication of a new book - Mark Webber: Up Front - which the Australian has published in Australia.
In the book, Webber reveals that he crashed into a friend as they went out cycling on the Sunday prior to the Suzuka event. It was the first time Webber had been back on a mountain bike since he broke his leg in Tasmania at the end of 2008.
Webber kept the shoulder injury, which required pain-killing injections, secret from his team at the time - and did not even inform them once the campaign had finished.
That course of action has left Horner far from impressed - even though the team principal does not think the injury led to any drop in form from Webber.
"I didn't even know about the book, let alone the shoulder," Horner was quoted as saying by The Daily Telegraph. "It is obviously disappointing that Mark said nothing. It was an injury that did not appear to have any effect on his performance but all the same it would have been nice to know about it."
Horner also suggested that the cycling incident may point to the fact that Webber would be better off keeping clear of mountain biking while he is still racing.
"Our drivers have an obligation to make sure they are fit," he said. "It seems bikes don't agree with Mark so maybe it would be better if he stayed away from them."